Short communicationEvaluation of fumonisin exposure by determination of fumonisin B1 in human hair and in Brazilian corn products

•We analyzed FB1 in human hair and corn products from two cities in Brazil.•FB1 was detected in 4 hair samples (7.2%), at mean level of 21.3 ± 12.1 ng g−1.•The mean level of FB1 in corn products was 360.4 ± 555.1 μg kg−1.•PDI of FB1 estimated by FFQ and food analyzes was 7.9% of the PMTDI for fumonisins.•FB1 levels in human hair corroborate the low exposure of volunteers to dietary FB1.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dietary exposure to fumonisin B1 (FB1) through determination of residual FB1 in hair and corn products consumed by 56 volunteers from Pirassununga and Erval Velho, Brazil. Data from FB1 analyses in corn products and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) were used for estimating the mean probable daily intake (PDIM) for FB1. FB1 was detected in 4 human hair samples (7.2%), at a mean level of 21.3 ± 12.1 ng g−1. The mean FB1 level found in corn products was 360.4 ± 555.1 μg kg−1. The PDIM value of FB1 in volunteers was 159 ± 47 ng kg−1 body weight day−1 which represents 7.9% of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) recommended for fumonisins. The FB1 levels found in human hair samples from each volunteer were associated with their individual PDI of FB1, indicating that exposure to FB1 in the sample studied do not represent a health concern. This is the first report on the incidence of FB1 in individual human hair in Brazil.